Machine for making braided brake linings



S. B. BLAISDELL 'MACHINE FOR MAKING BRAIDED BRAKE LININGS Oct. 22, 1935.-

olignal Filed4 Aug. 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1935. s, B, BLAlsDELL 2,018,596

MACHINE FOR MAKING BRAIDED BRAKE LININGS Original Filed Aug. 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 S. B. BLAISDELL MACHINE FOR MAKING BRA'IDED BRAKE LININGS Oct. 22, 1935.

original Filed Aug. 18, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct 22, 1935 v s. B BLAISDELL 2,018,596

MACHINE FOR MAKING BRAIDED BRAKE LINvINGS original Filed Aug. 1a,4 1950 5 sheets-sheet 4 Oct. 22, 1935.- s, B, BLAlsDELL yMACHINE FOR MAKING BRAIDED BRAKE LIN'INGS 5 sheets-snee*L 5 Original Filed Aug. .18, 1930 Patented Oct. 22, 1935 MACHINE FOR MAKING BRAIDED BRAKE LININGS Sidney B. Blaisdell, Wyncote, Pa., assignor to Fidelity Machine Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Original application August 18, 1930, Serial No. 476,147. Divided and this application January 26, 1932, Serial No. 588,954

3 Claims.

This application is a division of my application for patent filed August 18, 1930, Serial No. 476,147.

This invention relates to a b-raided brake lining,

to a process for impregnating the brake lining fabric with a suitable substance or compound commonly used in the manufacture of brake lining, and to a machine adapted for producing the impregnated fabric.

One object of the invention is to provide a brake lining in which the threads are so interbraided that no loose ends will develop as the brake lining wears away under conditions of use.

Another object of the invention is to impregnate the fabric during the course of the braiding operation, so that all the threads of the fabric will be thoroughly impregnated when the fabric is completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will accomplish the braiding and the impregnation of the fabric in the manner above noted.

The construction of the brake lining, the machine for making it, and the process involved will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a face View of a strip made in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Fig, 2 is a cross section of the strip taken on the lines 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 2,

vshowing the relation of the threads; l

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. 3, sho-wing ways and means of thickening the strip;

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 3, but showing strips of various widths;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a strip of lesser thickness;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the supporting platform for the carriers by which the braiding of the threads is accomplished;

Fig. 11 diagrammatically illustrates the path of one series of thread carriers;

Fig. 12 diagrammatically illustrates the path f followed by a series of thread carriers directly Fig.. 15 is a plan View o-f a portion of the carrierv platform as arranged for producing narrow or thin strips;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the supporting platform for the carriers, the path of the carriers being shown diagrammatically in broken lines 5 4 and the impregnating nozzles being shown in full; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevation diagrammatically showing the relation between the spraying nozzles and the threads being impregnated thereby. l0

The braiding machine employed for making the strip according to the principles of my present invention is similar in general construction to the braiding machine shown and described in my prior U. S. Patent No. 1,742,126, dated December 15 31, 1929, the difference in the present machine having to do with the bobbin or thread carrier supporting platform and the guide slots formed therein for guiding the carriers along paths which will produce a strip of the character here- 20v inafter described.

The carrier supporting platform l forming the subject of the present invention is provided with the usual guide slots 2 for the guiding of carriers similar in character to those shown in my above mentioned prior patent, the usual horn gears being provided under the platform for moving the carriers in various directions along the guideways 2 to effect braiding and interbraiding of the threads carried by the carriers.

In the present case the guidewaysZ are arranged in sectional groups I0, 20, 311, 40, 50, 60, lil and 8l). Each'group comprises a series of substantially circular parts l l to I 8, 2| to 28, 3|

to 38, 4I to 48, 5l '0o 58, 6l to 68, 'H to 18 and 8| $5' to 88 respectively.

The carriers are divided into series A, B, C and D. In the present instance each series comprises thirty-seven carriers A1 to A37, B1 to B3", C1 to C3", D1 to D37 respectively.

The series A and B operate in opposite direc.- tions respectively along cooperating paths extending in the same general directions as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, through the groups lil, 40, 60 and l0, while the series C and D operate in opposite directions respectively along cooperating paths extending in the same general directions through the groups 20, 30, 50 and Bil.

As shown in Fig. 3, the threads of series A are braided with the threads of series B at each of the circular portions of their pathways, and the threads of series C are braided with the threads of series D in a like manner at each circular portion of each vgroup thereof throughout their path- Ways, thus the threads of series A and B are 66 braided together and the threads of series C and D are likewise braided together, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 3, the pathways of series A-B cross the pathways of series C-D diagonally Within the strip as shown at 98, 9|, 92 and 93 in said figures, thus an interbraiding of all the threads oi all the series is effected within theV strip, the threads of series A-B starting at one corner f on Ione face F of the strip passing diagonally through the strip to the center of the opposite face G thereof and thence diagonally through the strip again to the first mentioned face F but at the opposite side or corner f1 thereof, and the threads of series C-D starting at the corner g of the face G, passing diagonallyV through the strip at the center Yof the face F, thence diagonally through the strip to the corner g1 of the 'face G, crossing the series A-B at the points 95, 9|, 52 and 93, as above described.

- In this manner, when the strip wears under conditions of use the entire number of threads of which the stripV is composed are so interbraided that no loose ends develop, the strip, therefore, does not break down and may be kept in use until substantially the whole strip is worn away, thus insuring an even uniform breaking action at all times and eliminating the erratic braking action accompanying brake linings which when partially worn develop loose ends that get between the brake drums and brake shoes and cause a sudden gripping at one time and practically no grip at all upon a subsequent application of the brake.

As each Vpair of cooperating series of carriers A-B or C-D travel around the groups of circular portions of their pathways they form longitudinally extending sections of the strip, for example, the carriers oi.' series A-B in passing around the circular portions of the pathway in groups I 8, 45, 68 and 'ID form longitudinally extending sections H, I, J and K, and the carriers of series C-D in passing around the circular portions of groups 28, 55, i! and 80 form longitudinallyV extending sections L, M, N and O of the strip. Each of these sections or the strip is tied to the adjacent sections by the threads of the series A--B or C--D, passing from one section to the other section formed by these series respectively and the sections are all tied together by the diagonal crossing of the series A--B and C-D in the manner above noted.

Narrower or thinner strips may be produced by utilizing various portions of the platform I, it being noted from Fig. that the groups I0, 35, 5,8 and 'ill are arranged in one line to produce one face F of the strip while the groups 2l), 48,58 and 85 are arranged in a similar line parallel to the first said line to produce the opposite face G of the strip. The corresponding groups of the parallel lines are arranged directly opposite to each other, i. e. the group is opposite to the group Ill, the group 4I) is opposite the group 30, the group G is opposite the group 50 and the group 8B is opposite the group 10.

Thus it will be seenv that by utilizing either of the aligned groups I0, 30, 59, ID or 20, 4U, 6D, 80 the carriers may be arranged to travel through either, of these aligned groups without passing into the other of the aligned groups, to produce a thinner strip of the nature shown in Fig. 9.

This is accomplished, for example, by making the pathways I2, I3, Y32, 33, 52, 53, 'I2 and 13 circularly continuous at the center line w-w oi the platform instead of their interconnecting with the corresponding groups of the other aligned series lying at the opposite side of said center line.

Likewise narrower strips or the nature shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 may be made by utilizing cer- 5 tain groups of the two parallel series oi groups, for example, to produce the strip shown in Fig 6, groups I0 and 20 may be used, the circular parts I5, I4, and 24 thereof being made continuous and not interconnecting with the corresponding 10 parts 38, 3|, 48 and 4I of the groups 38 and 40 which lie adjacent the parts I5, I4, 25 and 24 of the groups I0 and 28, along the dividing line :c-z between the groups Ill-20 and 30-48.

In producing the strip shown in Fig. 7, groups l5 I0, 28, and 40 may be used, the parts 35, 34. and 44 of the groups 30 and 40 respectively being continuously circular and not connecting with the corresponding parts 58, 5I, 58 and 6I oi groups 5G and 60 respectively which lie adjacent 20 the groups 38 and 40 along the dividing line y-y.

Likewise in producing the strip shown in Fig. 8, three of the double groups are used i. e., Ill-25, 311-45 and Ell-55, the parts 55 and 55 of group being continuously circular and not connecting 25 with the corresponding parts 'I8 and II of the groups 'Ill and 80 along the dividing line 2 2, the parts and 84 of group 68 being likewise continuous and not connecting with the correspending parts 88 and 8| of the group 80 lying 30 adjacent thereto at the dividing line s-z These changes in the pathways for forming the corners of one of the narrower strips are clearly shown in Fig. 15, the parts 24, 25, 4I and 48 of the platform I being replaced by parts 24a, 25a, 35 flIaand 48a., respectively.

Regardless of the width or thickness of the strip each strip comprises two or morelongitudinally extending sections composed oi a plurality of braided threads that pass from one section 40 to the next adjacent section. tying adjacent sections together.

The strips may be thickened by placing longitudinally extending ller threads in the center of each or any desired number of the longitudinal- 45 ly extending sections of the strip as shown at |58 in Fig. 4, the threads of each of the various groups that enter into the particular section passing around the iiller or core threads mi). Additional iiller threads lill may also be inserted 50 at the places Where diagonally crossing series of threads cross each other, as shown in Fig. 4, the threads of series A-B, for example, lying at opposite sides oi each ller thread ISI while the threads of series C-D lie at opposite sides of the 5 said filler threads I5 I, substantially at right angles to the threads of series A-B.

In Fig. 5 a longitudinally extending filler thread |02 is sho-wn in the center of each of the circular portions of each oi the groups thereof. co

It is customary in producing brake lining to use an asbestos yarn twisted with or around line metal wires to give strength and endurance to the brake lining and the machine employed in the 'production of brake lining strips as above 65 described-is capable of using this type of yarn which in the above description is referred to as' threads.

In order to permit the passage of the iiller threads to the center of each of the circular portions of each circularly arranged group of such circular sections, to permit of the passage of filler threads to the center of each of said circularly arranged group-s, and to permit of the passage o1' filler threads to the points outside the circulsrly arranged groups on a line intermediate the parallel rows of circular groups, the platform I is provided with openings |03 at the points mentioned and through which the said filler threads are adapted to pass.

From the above description taken in conjunction with Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be obvious that the strip made in accordance with the principles of my invention comprises two main series of threads A--B and C-D, that the divisional series A crosses and is braided with the divisional series B throughout the strip to form the main series A-B, that the divisional series C crosses and is braided with the divisional series D throughout the strip to form the main series C`-D; that the main series A-B starting at the corner f of the strip passes in a diagonal plane P from said corner through the strip to a point substantially at the center of the opposite face G of the strip, then passes in a diagonal piane P1, disposed at a reverse angle to that of the plane P, to the corner f1 of the strip, thence around the said corner f1 into a diagonal plane P2 crossing the rst said plane P at a point 94 adjacent the face G of the strip. The series A-B then progresses in another diagonal plane P3 to the corner f of the strip passing around the said corner to the starting point in the plane P.

The threads of divisional series A are at all times throughout the strip running in opposite directions to the threads of divisional series B, and as the threads of these respective series progress through the strip they lay at an angle with respect to each other and cross each other in the planes defining their path as above noted.

Likewise the divisional series C and D progress through the strip in diagonal planes Q, Q1, Q2 and Q3, starting at the corner g of the strip and progressing through the plane Q to the face F of the strip, thence through the reverse angle plane Q1 to the corner g1, thence around the corner g1 into the plane Q2, which parallelsthe plane Q1, to the face F of the strip, the plane Q2 crossing the plane Q at the point 95. 'I'he series C-D then passes into the reverse angle plane Q3, which parallels the plane Q, advancing to and around the corner g of the strip into the plane Q.

The plane P of series A-B, it will be noted, crosses the plane Q3 of the series C-D at the point 95, the plane Q of the series C-D at the point 9|, and the plane P2 of the series A-B at the point 94.

The plane P1 of the series A-B crosses the plane Q2 of the series C-D at the point 91 and the plane Q1 of the series C-D at the point 93.

They series A-B then rounds the corner f1 of the strip and passes into the plane P2 which crosses the plane Q1 of the series C--D at the point 98, the plane Q2 of the series C-D at the point 92, the plane P of the series A-B at the point 94.

The plane P3 of the series A-B then crosses the plane Q of the series C-D at the point 99 and the plane Q3 of series C-D at the point 90.

The series A-B then returns to and rounds the corner f of the strip and follows again through the circuit starting in the plane P.

The series C-D follows a similar path in reverse order starting at the corner g progressing through planes Q, Q1 to corner g1, then returning by planes Q2 and Q3 to the corner a. Thus it will be seen that the divisional series of each main series of threads are braided together and that the two main series are interbraided so as to woven brake linings where the warp threads.

wear away and leave the weft threads free. or vice versa.

In order to impregnate the fabric thoroughly with a compound, usually rubber, which is usually introduced into brake linings that are subsequently placed in a mold and heated to cause the rubber to ilow and thereby unite all portions of the brake lining by the frictional substance, I provide spray nozzles |05, |05 which are connected to a common source of supply, such as a pump (not shown).

'I'he spray nozzles |05, |05 project upwardly through the openings |03, |03 of the platform to the plane of the upper thread guiding ends |05 of the bobbin carriers, as shown in Fig. 17. Each of the nozzles |05 then 4extends at an angle toward the braiding point X of the machine as indicated at |01 in Fig. 17.

Each nozzle |05 is disposed at the center of aA group of the circular portions of the pathways traveled by the carriers, thus as the carriers move about their respective paths the threads carried by the individual carriers are moved across the mouths |98 of the nozzles |05.

With the compound being forced, in a liquid state, through the nozzles |05 the threads as they pass across the mouths |08 of the nozzles |05 will be sprayed and thereby thoroughly impregnated with the compound just before the threads pack together at the`braiding point X of the machine, thus the entire fabric is thoroughly impregnated with the compound.

I claim:

1. The combination of a supporting platform, a plurality of thread guides movable in intertwining paths over said platform, and a series of spray nozzles spaced apart on and projecting above the platform between the threads carried by the thread guides with some of said nozzles extending at an angle with respect to the platform.

2. The combination of a supporting platform, v

a plurality of thread guides movable in intertwining paths over said platform, and a series of spray nozzles spaced apart on and projecting above the platform between the threads carried by the thread guides with some of said nozzles extending at an angle with respect to the platform and all the nozzles pointing toward the braiding point of the machine.

3. The combination of a supporting platform, a plurality of thread guides movable in intertwining paths over said platform, a series of spray nozzles disposed at spaced points on and projecting above the platform to a plane substantially the same as that of the upper ends of the thread guides, some of said sprayl nozzles being bent at an angle to the plane of the platform above the upper ends of the thread guides and extending between the threads carried by the thread guides.

SIDNEY B. BILAISDELL. 

